Container



p 1936- M. H. SMITH 2,053,847

CONTAINER Filed Sept. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES CONTAINER Myron H. Smith, Dundee, N. Y., assignor toMiIo Folding Box Corporation, Dundee, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 20, 1934, Serial No. 744,825

3 Claims.

My invention relates to fruit and vegetable packages or containers, and one of the prime objects of the'invention is to provide a container for fruits, vegetables, and the like, which is of rigid construction, which provides maximum ventilation for the contents thereof, and which can be economically manufactured. I

Another object of the invention is to design a shipping container which can be compactly folded into a fiat bundle, so that it can be economically shipped, and which can be quickly and easily opened and assembled or folded.

A'further object is to provide a shipping container of rigid construction so that when the containers are placed in superimposed relation for shipment or storage, the upper containers will rest on the cover rim so that the weight is carried on the side walls of the container without imposing any weight on the center of the cover, and without danger of damage to the contents of the lower containers, said top and bottom members being formed to provide ample ventilation.

A still further object is to design a shipping container which lends itself to a crown pack so that the fruit contained therein will be attractively and tastily displayed when the cover is removed- With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an isometric view of my improved shipping container with the cover omitted.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation, showing it packed with fruit.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the corner members.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the cover.

Fig. 5 shows the container in folded position.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the folded container.

Fig. 7 shows the container with the bottom and. cover omitted.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of one of the top rails.

When using containers for shipping fruit and vegetables by rail or truck, the cost of returning the container to the shipper is an important consideration. If the device is rigid and not collapsible, its bulk usually prohibits its return, as the freight rate exceeds the original cost of the container, and if the container is collapsible, it is not rigid when assembled, and usually will not withstand more than a few shipments, unless built so heavy that its weight is excessive, and I have, therefore, perfected a shipping container or package which isv very light in weight, which can be compactly folded, which is extremely rigid when assembled, and which can be used over and over again without weakening the structure or causing it to become sloppy.

- Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numerals 9 and ill indicate the end frame members of the container, each frame comprising the horizontally disposed top and bottom rails I l and I2 respectively, each rail being formed as clearly shown in Fig 8 of the drawings, the center section of the inner side Wall being relieved or cut away as shown at I3, and end panels i4 serve to connect the top and bottom rails, said panels being secured by means of nails I5 as usual, the thickness of the end panel being equal to the cut away portion of the rail to permit the structure to tightly fold. Openings iii are provided directly adjacent the ends of each rail, and for a purpose to be presently described.

The side walls of the container are pivotally connected to the end frames and comprise the vertically disposed corner members I1 and I8 respectively, the ends of which are shouldered and turned to form tubular pintle extensions 19 and 20 respectively, said pintles projecting through the openings It to form a pivotal connection with the end frames, and side panels 21 are secured to each upright by brads or nails 22 as usual, and when these end and side walls are connected together in assembled relation, it will be obvious that they are readily foldable as indicated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings.

The bottom of the container is formed as a unit, and comprises end members 23 connected by means of slats 24, the corners of the unit being provided with openings 25 to accommodate and receive the projecting pintles 20 of the corner members, and when the bottom is assembled on the container, it can be secured in position by means of nails or other fastening devices.

The cover is formed in a similar manner and comprises the end members 26 connected by slats 21, the corners being also provided with openings 28 which accommodate and receive the upper turned ends IQ of the corner members when the container is assembled. End members 29 are also provided on the face of the cover directly over the members 26, so that when the containers are placed in superimposed relation for shipment or storage, they will be definitely spaced to permit a free circulation of air, and this cover can also be secured in position by means of fastening devices (not shown).

After the bottom and cover units are removed from the receptacle, the structure is readily foldable, the side walls being pivotally connected to the end frames so that a flat, compact bundle results. The top and bottom units are laid on the folded structure, and are secured thereto in any approved manner. This folded structure is very light and compact, making it economical to return to the shipper for use over and over again, it does not become sloppy with continued use, and it requires minimum space for shipment or storage, resulting in substantial savings in freight charges and storage space.

In assembling the container preparatory to packing, the end and side walls are swung open, the top is then secured in position and the container inverted, a pad 30 is next placed on the top and a short facing or liner 3| placed in position, the fruit 32 is then packed in the container, a bottom pad 33 placed on the fruit, and the bottom unit is then nailed or otherwise secured in position, after which the container is inverted and is ready for piling, shipment, or storage.

When it is desired to display the container contents, the top and top pad are removed, exposing the upper layer of fruit which is surrounded by the liner 3t, presenting a pleasing and tasty appearance.

I wish to direct particular attention to the projecting pintles which register with and engage the openings in the bottom and cover units, as this construction forms a very rigid, substantial construction.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical, and substantial foldable shipping container for shipping fruits and vegetables of various kinds.

What I claim is:

1'. In a container of the class described, a collapsible body comprising corner posts-having pivots on the ends thereof, panels secured to and rigidly connecting said posts and providing op posed side walls for the body, upper and lower cross rails mounted on said pivots and spanning the opposite ends of the body, panels secured to and rigidly connecting said cross rails and providing opposed end walls for the body, said pivots projecting beyond the cross rails at the corners of the body so formed, and top and bottom panels having holes at the corners thereof adapted to register with said pivots and hold the body in rigid set-up position, the container body being collapsible upon removal of the top and bottom panels.

2. In a container of the class described, a collapsible body comprising corner posts having the opposite ends thereof turned and providing projecting pivot pintles, panels secured to and rigidly connecting said posts and providing opposed side walls for the body, upper and lower cross rails pivotally mounted on said pintles and spanning the opposite ends of the body, panels secured to and rigidly connecting said cross rails and providing opposed end walls for the body, said pintles extending beyond the cross rails at the corners of the body so formed, and top, and bottom panels havingholes at the corners thereof adapted to register with said pintles and hold the body in rigid set-up position, the container body being collapsible upon removal of the top and bottom panels.

3. In a container of the class described, a collapsible body comprising corner posts having the opposite end thereof turned to provide projecting pivot pintles, panels rigidly secured to the outer sides of the posts and providing opposed side walls for the body, upper and lower cross rails having holes formed in the opposite ends thereof which register with said pintles, said cross rails spanning the opposite ends of the body and having their inner sides recessed, panels having theiropposite ends inserted in said recesses so formed and rigidly secured to the said cross rails and providing opposed end walls for the body, said pintles extending beyond the cross rails at the corners of the body, and top and bottom panels having holes at the corners thereof which are adapted to register with said pivot projections, said top and bottom panels when disposed on said cross members holding the body in rigid set-up position, the container body being collapsible upon removal of the top and bottom panels.

MYRON H. SMITH. 

